September is National Suicide Awareness Month. Pastor Peter Preus understands both the gravity of grief and the deep feelings of disgrace attached to the death of a loved one by suicide. His own life has been touched by suicide in the death of his first wife Jean. How does one grieve in the wake of a suicide? Can Christians grieve suicide? Is there any Gospel comfort for those who have lost loved ones to suicide? Listen in as Pastor talks about grieving over the suicide of a fellow believer. For a free copy of Pastor Preus’ new book, email lifeministry@lcms.org
If you are concerned about someone – maybe even yourself – having suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help. Contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or the crisis text line at 741-741. Help is also available from suicidepreventionlifeline.org and crisistextline.org.
Bio: Pastor Peter Preus graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana in May of 1982. After serving congregations in Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan, he most recently served The Lutheran Church of the Triune God in Brooklyn Center from August of 1999 until August of 2017, when he retired. Pastor Preus’s first wife, Jean, died by suicide in September of 1994. As a result, he was widowed with six children, ranging from one to twelve years in age. He then remarried in May of 1997 to Julie Lams. Julie, in addition to serving as a loving wife and mother, retired from teaching at St. John’s, Corcoran MN in 2018. In 2011 Pastor Preus’s book: “And She Was a Christian – Why Do Believers Commit Suicide?” was published by Northwestern Publishing House. His new book “I Will Grieve for the Suicide” was published in 2021 by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Office of National Missions. Pastor Preus has also written various articles on grieving for the suicide and ministering to the despairing Christian. And he is grateful for opportunities to speak on these subjects.
Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life, and email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org
Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.
We believe that God is the author and sustainer of all life. We also know it can be hard to speak about the intrinsic value of that life when it feels like the world is trying to drown us out.
We’re right here beside you. In this podcast of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Life Ministry, we’re coming alongside one another as a community of Christ’s redeemed people, ones who are speaking up for and living out the sanctity of human life. Together we’ll explore life issues in a way that honors our heavenly Father’s value of human life, serves our neighbor, and connects us to others who are doing the same. Join us, so that together we can be friends for life.
